They were the twins we couldn't stop watching. For two seasons on ABC Family, The Lying Game kept us guessing about Emma Becker and Sutton Mercer, long-lost sisters swapped at birth who decided to trade lives to find their biological mother. It was peak teen drama—darker than Pretty Little Liars in some ways, but definitely more grounded in family secrets than supernatural threats.
The show felt like it was just hitting its stride when the axe fell. In 2013, the network (now Freeform) pulled the plug, leaving us with one of the most frustrating cliffhangers in television history. We never got to see the fallout of that rooftop revelation. But what happened to the The Lying Game cast once the cameras stopped rolling?
Some went on to land massive roles in the CW universe. Others sort of faded into the indie scene or shifted toward family life. It’s been well over a decade since the pilot aired, and looking back at the roster, the talent was actually pretty stacked.
Alexandra Chando: The Face of the Double Life
Playing two characters is a nightmare for most actors. Alexandra Chando had to do it every single day. She played Emma, the kind-hearted foster kid, and Sutton, the spoiled socialite with a mean streak. Honestly, the way she managed to make them feel like entirely different people just through a slight change in posture or a different "look" in her eyes was underrated.
After the show ended, Chando didn't jump immediately into another massive lead. She did a few guest spots on shows like Castle and The Neighborhood. She also stepped behind the camera, which is a move a lot of actors make when they want more control over the narrative. She directed episodes of The Sex Lives of College Girls, which is a pretty cool full-circle moment considering her roots in teen drama.
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You might have spotted her in some TV movies too. She’s kept a relatively low profile compared to some of her peers, but she’s still very much a part of the industry’s fabric. Fans still flood her Instagram comments asking for a reboot, which tells you everything you need to know about the impact Emma and Sutton had.
The Men of Phoenix: Blair Redford and Tyler Christopher
Blair Redford played Ethan Whitehorse. He was the "bad boy" from the wrong side of the tracks, the one who actually knew the truth about the twin swap early on. Redford brought a certain broodiness to the role that made the Emma/Ethan/Sutton love triangle actually feel stakes-heavy rather than just annoying.
Post-Lying Game, Redford hit the jackpot with Marvel. He played John Proudstar (Thunderbird) in The Gifted. It was a massive departure from the soapier vibes of ABC Family. He looked the part, he acted the part, and it gave him a chance to do some heavy-duty stunt work.
Then there was the veteran of the group, Tyler Christopher. He played Dan Whitehorse, Ethan's older brother and the local cop. Christopher was already a legend in the soap world for his work on General Hospital. Sadly, his story has a tragic end. Tyler Christopher passed away in late 2023. His death was a massive blow to the acting community, especially those who grew up watching him as Nikolas Cassadine or the steady, moral compass on The Lying Game. He struggled with mental health and addiction, things he was very open about toward the end of his life, and his castmates remembered him as a deeply kind, talented man who brought gravity to every scene he was in.
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Alice Greczyn and the Supporting Circle
Madeline "Mads" Rybak was the character you either loved or were deeply suspicious of. Alice Greczyn played her with a perfect mix of vulnerability and "cool girl" energy. Since the show wrapped, Greczyn hasn't just been acting; she’s become a bit of a lifestyle and wellness voice. She wrote a book called Wayward, which explores her upbringing in a religious cult and her journey toward finding herself.
It’s a heavy, fascinating read that explains a lot about the depth she brought to Mads. She’s also appeared in The Catch and Girlboss. She seems to pick her projects carefully these days, focusing more on things that resonate with her personally rather than just chasing the next big pilot.
What Really Happened to the Show's Ending?
The biggest question surrounding The Lying Game cast isn't just where they are, but why they were left in the lurch. Chuck Pratt Jr., the showrunner, has talked in the years since about where the story was going.
Basically, the show was a victim of timing. Pretty Little Liars was the runaway hit, and the network felt like they only had room for one massive teen mystery. Ratings were okay, but not "untouchable." When the show was canceled, we were left with the knowledge that Rebecca and Alec were the twins' biological parents—a twist that changed everything.
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- The Planned Plot: Season 3 would have dealt with the aftermath of the twins finding out they were half-siblings with some of their friends.
- The Emma/Sutton Dynamics: We were supposed to see a total role reversal where Sutton lost everything and Emma gained the "perfect" life.
- The Mystery: The "Lying Game" itself was going to get much darker, involving more of the parents' past sins.
Why We Still Care About These Characters
There’s something about 2010s teen TV that just hits different. It was before everything became ultra-stylized like Euphoria. It was about the secrets in the suburbs. The cast had genuine chemistry. Charisma Carpenter, who played Rebecca Sewell (the twins' mom), brought her Buffy and Angel pedigree to the show, giving it a layer of "prestige" genre acting that helped ground the younger stars.
Seeing her interact with the younger cast gave the show a bridge between generations. It wasn't just a kids' show; it was a family saga.
Modern-Day Status of Other Key Players
- Christian Alexander (Thayer Rybak): He’s been relatively quiet in the acting world lately. He was the one we all thought might be the villain, then the hero, then... well, it’s complicated.
- Helen Slater (Kristin Mercer): The original Supergirl! She’s continued to work steadily, appearing in the Supergirl TV series as Eliza Danvers. She remains a staple of the convention circuit and a respected veteran in the industry.
- Adrian Pasdar (Alec Rybak): He’s a guy you see everywhere. From Heroes to Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Pasdar has a knack for playing the morally gray father figure. He’s still working constantly, often doing voice work for Marvel animations.
How to Revisit the Mystery
If you're looking to dive back into the world of Emma and Sutton, the show pops up on various streaming platforms periodically. Currently, it’s often found on platforms like CW Seed or for purchase on Amazon Prime.
The books by Sara Shepard (who also wrote Pretty Little Liars) offer a different ending. If the show's cliffhanger still haunts you, reading the novels is the only way to get a sense of "closure," even if the show deviated significantly from the source material.
Take Action: Tracking the Cast Today
To stay updated on what the stars are doing now, your best bet isn't a fan wiki.
- Follow the directing credits: Keep an eye on Alexandra Chando’s IMDb for her work on the other side of the lens. She’s becoming a significant voice in TV directing.
- Check the Soap Circuit: For fans of the older cast members like Tyler Christopher (in memoriam) or Adrian Pasdar, the daytime and procedural worlds are where they’ve left their biggest marks.
- Support Local/Indie Projects: Many of the supporting cast members like Alice Greczyn have moved into writing and independent media. Supporting their books or smaller films is the best way to see the evolution of their talent.
The legacy of the show isn't just the "who is the killer" mystery. It’s about how that specific group of actors captured a very specific moment in TV history—a bridge between the old-school soaps and the modern era of binge-worthy mysteries.